An eight-year study funded by the Office of Naval Research and DNR Saltwater Recreation Funds created more than 77,000 video clips – with one included here – that were later used to identify and document the population of observed animals around an artificial reef.

The collaborative effort between SCDNR and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SKIO) to monitor fish recruitment and use of the small artificial reef with a remote video camera system was initiated back in 1999.

Analysis of videos for 16 fish species or species groups revealed several noteworthy findings which you can read more about on the SCDNR website – including length of time on site for certain “residential” fish and migratory patterns for others.